Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-15

aay Governor Lee refused 10 modify the
death-sentence l went to sec him. said:
"well, II IL bad, and am very sorry for
you" "Yes,v said he, II II bad, and
am sorry too-sorry for myself, but Tar
more for others whose hearts will be
broken by the result" Much has been
said about the fidelity and devotion OF his
Kindred. but nothing touched me 80 much
~ his hrooding solici,uae for his mother
and his aunt. He dreaded the effect OF bis
death upon them more than for himself.
He said tha, for some time his mind mad
been at rest 50 far as the future was con-
eerned.
on COMPUTATION.
Reporter: DO you think that he ought TO
have been execuiedi
Or. Hatcher: That question is beyond
the eompass Of this interview, and sup
pose the public would care little for my
opinion. You are aware that this case has
not only awakened almost universal inte-
rest, but has divided the people into va
RANT aud conflicting classes. II has seemed
10 me that the public has been broken up
INTO three distinct divisions-the believers
in his guilt, the believers in his innocence,
and those who were left In honest doubt.
The doubters were very numerous,
and In that class were many OF the most
thoughtful. conservative. and dis.
eliminating people. The pardoning OF
the prisoner would have seriously
offended the believers in his guilt
and would not have been satisfactory TO
those in doubt. His execution shocked
the believers in his innocence and gave
great pain to the doubtful. The commute
tier Of his sentence, / think, would have
satisfied in a large measure all classes, ex-
eept the very extreme believers either In
his innocence or in his guilt. IL he had
been imprisoned for life the act would
have given him the benefit Of doubt which
has existed from the first, which has grown
steadily since his conviction, and which
must be immensely strengthened by his dy-
ing protestation Of innocence.
Reporter: DO you mean 70 imply that
you do not believe IN capital punishment
DIR. Hatcher: BY no means.
LAST HOURS.
Reporter: We are very anxious, Of
course, Doctor, to learn from you the par
ticulars OF his las; hours.
DR.. Hatcher: You must not expect me, OF
course. to give you any tragical or sensational
statements. Indeed, II Is painful 20 dwell
upon an event so mouruiul and narrowing
TO me that would gladly forget 1t.
Reporter: DO you mean 10 say that your
last hours with Cluverius were very dis
'tressiugt
DR.. Hatcher: To me they were, because
II was such an intOlerable strain upon my
sympathies. He, Of course, was very sad,
and the two hours which ! spent with him
before his death were among the most try
ing Of my life.
NOT WORD or CONFESSION.
Reporter: Did he make any confession
or give any hint OF it!
DIR. Hatcher: Not one word, and no.
thing occurred which suggested TO me that
he was struggling to keep back any secret.
when the news came that the Governor
would not interfere was left alone with
hlm in the cell, and as soon as the door was
shut we knelt in prayer. He arose calmly
and talked freely as TO his end. ItOid him
that all earthly hope was dead, and that
death was at hand. told him that was the
last moment when we could be together
alone, and il there was anything that he
had 10 say there must be no delay. He
said that there was nothing. He had made
his statement and no motive for changing IL.
Reporter: Did he talk about his re-
ligious prospects,
the conversation in detail Two or three
things be said, and as they came unsolicited
YOU can have them. He said that the Bible
had been TO him great comfort, and that
be would certainly have broken down but
for its promises. He said: "DoctOr, !
want to say to you that my trust for the
future is in Jesus Christ, and i have 10 fear
beyond DEATH" ] never said anything 10
him to make him believe that he was
Christian, but when he said this felt con-
strained to tell him that If in his heart he
did truly and penitently trust in the saving
mercy Of God be had no reason TO be afraid
Of the future. As was reading Psalm
10 him be stopped me and said: al have
had but one prayer on my lips to-day,
and that is, "LOrd Jesus, receive my
spirit" | told him that as l came down to
the prison had intended to suggest that
prayer 10 him to take with him 10 the
scsfrold, but that l was glad that he had
already chosen il for himself. He seemed
strangely calm and bright as he talked OF
that passage.
Reporter: Why did you pray with him
lust before he lett the cell for the scaffOld:
DR.. Hatcher: Because he sent into the
hall for me and asked me to dot. Wehad
already prayed together twice before with
IN an hour. lie always seemed anxious
for me TO pray for him when | went
10 see him, and he told me, in our
last interview that my visits had
brought a measure OF comfort and Joy TO
blm which he knew not how to express.
| did nothing. of course, but what any
minister Of Christ would gladly have done
for him; but his tender and affectionate
bearing, and especially his simple and uE-
feigned gratitude, would have amply COM
pensated me even If had done far more.
on THE scAFFOLD.
Reporter: viii you be kind enough to
reproduce the prayer that you offered on
the scafiOldy
DR.. Hatcher: beg TO be excused. 1t
was a brief and unprecedented prayer,
such as the sad occasion suggested, and !
could not possibly reproduce it. ! do not
use written prayers.
Reporter: Did he request you TO make
the statement that you made for him on the
seaGold before you reached the scltfold?
DR.. Hatcher: He didn am sure that
il was unpremeditated, as he told me few
minutes before that he would have nothing
TO say.
Reporter: What was the exact state
mentf
DIR. Hatcher: II was this "Please say
for me, Doctor, that / come to my death
without one hard feeling IN my heart to-
ward any one in the world" | simply re.
peated as nearly as could what he said.
Reporter: When you took leave of him
he said something TO you which the re-
porters could not catch. DO you object to
revealing II?
DR.. Hatcher: Not at all. AS took him
by the hand he said in low but distinc,
voice: "Good.bye, Doctor; i am very
much obliged to you. Please try TO com.
fort them at home, and give them my love-
That ended the matter with me, and Ser
geant Smith was kind enough TO furnish me
an escort and enable me TO leave the place
before the last sad act.
And now will you not excuse me:
"Now, WAS HE GUILTY."
Reporter: Thank you, Doctor; but may
/ not ask you il, after all, you dQ not think
he was guilty man?
DIR. Hatcher That ! have never said,
and surely at this time ii would be strange
for me 10 commit myself to that view. j